Tourism Skyrocketed In These States Last Year, And Nevada Was One Of Them

The COVID-19 pandemic was devastating for the U.S. tourism industry, especially since it came at a time when travel in the country was booming, with large numbers of both domestic and international tourists. However, since travel restrictions were lifted in 2023, the industry has largely bounced back, with tourism in the U.S. almost reaching pre-pandemic levels.

In 2024, tourism surged across the country, and a handful of states saw a dramatic increase not only in visitors, but also in the dollars flowing to their local economies. While North Carolina, New York, Wyoming, and Montana experienced the biggest surges in tourism, other states also saw major boosts. According to a recently-released report by Travel and Tour World, Georgia, South Carolina, Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Nevada received a significant uptick in visitors and may have benefitted the most, economically.

The report singled out Nevada, in particular, for having an especially profitable year. Home to Las Vegas, Nevada has long been a major player on the American tourism stage, and a series of marquee events held in Vegas in 2024 brought in a flood of visitors and revenue. Tourists also came to experience some of Nevada's other attractions, which only served to sweeten the pot once the receipts were tallied. 

According to the report, 52 million visitors came to the Silver State in 2024, boosting the local economy to the tune of $100 billion. This accounted for 37% of Nevada's GDP, demonstrating just how crucial tourism is to the state. The lion's share of these visitors — 41.7 million — headed to Las Vegas, where they enjoyed the hotels, restaurants, casinos, shows, and other entertainment the city is known for.

However, a few big events may have accounted for this rush of visitors, including conventions (with 6 million attendees), the return of Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, and most importantly, Super Bowl LVIII. This annual American football championship is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. It attracted an army of fans who, in addition to cheering on their teams, also packed the hotels and casinos, soaking up the non-stop excitement of Las Vegas and contributing roughly $1 billion dollars in revenue, the report states.

While Vegas is certainly the star of the show when it comes to tourism in Nevada, other destinations also attract visitors. These include the engineering marvel of Hoover Dam, the otherworldly formations at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Reno, Virginia City, and the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe — one the largest lakes in America.

Despite the fact that 2024 proved to be very profitable for the Nevada tourism industry, things look decidedly less rosy for 2025. Las Vegas has so far seen a 12% decline in visitors, which reflects a slowdown in international tourism across the country. The U.S. is expected to lose $12.5 billion in international tourism revenue this year, as many visitors — particular Canadians — are choosing to stay away.

Multiple factors may be affecting tourism in Las Vegas, in particular. Skyrocketing prices have begun to turn travelers off, with many accusing local businesses of price-gouging. In an interview with Las Vegas radio station WBUR, Larry Turner — a porter at Four Queens Hotel and Casino — expressed his frustration. "These casinos are already making billions upon billions of dollars from people coming to gamble. And they're still going to upcharge food and drinks by 200%. I ordered two Mick Ultras from the casino bar, $30 for two beers," he explained.

In addition to outrageous prices for food and drinks, Las Vegas hotels and casinos now charge for parking, which used to be free. lt should come as no surprise that all of this nickel-and-diming has a lot of tourists feeling squeezed, and they're beginning to take their business elsewhere. "I'm not going back. It's because of the prices," commented a former Las Vegas visitor on a Reddit post. "People can gamble in a lot of places now. I don't need to fly across the country to Vegas and pay $8 for a bottled water, and for ridiculous food prices, fees, taxes on fees, [et cetera]." To stretch your budget, consider a trip this underrated Nevada gem, a cheap alternative to Vegas' crowds and chaos.